Mounting for carding machine cylinder shafts and the like



Jan. 12, 1954 e. G. SHERRILL 2,6

MOUNTING FOR CARDING MACHINE CYLINDER SHAFTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 26, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 56 27 so 1 27 J W'o 52 0 27 f 33 11 24 52 :I 75 74 /5 2 206 I 75 7 75 46 46 v l I I3 87 42 INVENTOR I GEORGE 6'. Sl/[fiR/LL. f1 7 2 BY v M ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1954 G. e. SHERRILL 2,665,954

MOUNTING FOR CARDING MACHINE CYLINDER SHAFTS AND THE LIKE! Filed Feb. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ 60R6 G. f/MRR/M ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1954 sHERRlLL 2,665,954

MOUNTING FOR CARDING MACHINE CYLINDER SHAFTS AND THE-LIKE Filed Feb. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 INVENTORZ J 6 BY fJn.+ M

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 12, 1954 MOUNTING FOR CARD ING MACHINE CYLINDER SHAFTS AND THE LIKE George G. Sheri-ill, Troutmans, N. 0. Application February 26, 1951, Serial N 0. 212,717

This invention relates to an improved mount disposed in spaced axial relation to the anti-fric-,

tion bearing and each being provided with a friction hearing or sleeve mounted therein, the internal diameter of which is slightly greater than the external diameter of the shaft extending therethrough and also extending through the anti-friction bearing to permit free rotation of said shaft therein so that in the event of breakdown of the anti-friction bearing as a result of continuous use over a relatively long period, the friction bearings at opposed sidesthereof will support the shaft for rotation therein until, the anti-friction bearing can be replaced.

Such a structure is extremely important when employed in association with the main cylinder of a carding machine since this will prevent the main cylinder from moving downwardly by gravity, upon wear, to substantially below its normal axis which would result in the card clothing on the cylinder being badly damaged as it engaged by either or both the doffer cylinder and the licker-in cylinder.

With the usual types of bearings heretofore in use, upon break-down of the anti-friction bearing in which the main cylinder shaft is mounted, the card clothing on the main cylinder would be seriously damaged as heretofore stated and as a result of which it would be necessary to replace the card clothing thereon, this being an extremely difficult, costly and time consuming operation.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as'the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carding machine wherein many of the parts are shown schematically and the parts which are not pertinent being omitted from the drawings;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of Figure 1 but omitting the driving and idling pulleys therefrom and illustrating the im roved mounting for the main cylinder shaft of the carding machine;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view 2 Claims. (01. 308-35) taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2 and showing the idler and driving pulleys on the reduced outer end of the shaft;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper central portion of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the improved bearingblock removed from the pedestal and dis-' associated from the carding machine.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates one of the lower side frame members of a carding machine which supports intermediate its ends an upper substantially semi-circular side frame member ll being suitably secured to the upper surface of the side frame member I 0 by any suitable means such as bolts I2. The upper side frame member ll of the carding machine has a substantially semicircular opening |3 therein, through which may be observed the sheet metal covering M, of a conventional main cylinder I 5 of the carding machine which is fixedly mounted, as by a key 16 and a set screw [1 on the main or medial portion 20a of a main cylinder shaft designated broadly at 20.

It will be observed in Figure 3 that the main cylinder shaft '20 has a reduced outer end portion 20b integral therewith and also has a portion 200 disposed between the medial portion 29a and the reduced portion 201) which is of slightly smaller diameter than the medial portion 20a, this portion of the shaft preferably having been turned to this slightly smaller diameter by any suitable means such as the device shown in my said co-pending application entitled Cutting Device for Turning Down Card Cylinder Shafts, Serial No. 212,716, filed February 26, 1951.

It might be stated that this portion 200 is turned down to a smaller diameter than the portion 20a because the particular bearing structure of this invention is adapted to replace bearings which have heretofore been in use for supporting the shaft 20. Heretofore, in using other bearings, continuously over long periods of time, the portion would become worn unevenly and become elliptically-shaped in cross-section and consequently it is usually necessary to turn down the portion 200 so that it will be perfectly round in cross-section and concentric with the mean axis of the shaft 20.

The carding machine illustrated in Figure 1 also includes a doffer cylinder 24 and a licker-in cylinder 25 which are driven in a conventional manner and which are supported for rotation in a conventional manner on the lower side frame member [0. The upper substantially semi-circular frame member II also supports a plurality of top fiat brackets which, in turn support suitable rollers 21 rotatably mounted therein and about which conventional fiat carrying chains are adapted to move in the usual manner. It will be observed in Figures 1 and 2 that the lower ends of the brackets or stands 26 are disposed adjacent a substantially semi-circular flange 32 which is integral with and projfiGtS outwardly from the side frame member I l The outer reduced end 201) of the shaft 20 has an idler pulley 33 and a driving pulley 3A mount ed thereon, the pulley 33 being adapted to rotate on the reduced portion 20b and the pulley 34 being suitably secured, as by a key 35 (Figure 3) to the reduced portion 20b of the shaft 20. It will be observed inFigure 1 that a suitable continuously driven belt 36 engages the pulleys 33 and 34 and may be shifted by conventional means not shown from one of the pulleys 33 and 34 to the other. These pulleys 33 and 34 are retained on the reduced portion 20b of the shaft 20 by a collar 31 fixed on the reduced end portion 201) as by a set screw 40,.

The parts heretofore described are the usual parts of a card n ma hine and it is with t ese parts that the present inventionis particularly adapted to be associated. However, it is tojbe understood that the instant bearing structure, presently described; may be employed supporti'ng any desired type 'o'f shaft a ridj is particularly designed for a'shaft s'uch as th'eshaft '20 which detrimefital'to the machine if thebearingbe supports a substantial weightsuchas the main been ant nnae-firm po t n two rows of circularly spaced balls 54 which, in turn, engage the grooved outer peripheral surface of an inner race 55. Also, the particular type of anti-friction bearing employed as shown in Figure 3 is secured to the portion 200 of the shaft 20 by means of a tapered sleeve 56. However, it is to be understood that any type of antifriction bearing may be employed and may be secured to the shaft 20 in any desired manner.

The tapered sleeve 56 has the same internal diameter throughout its length and the outer diameter thereof is larger at one end of the sleeve than at the other end of the sleeve and this taper on the sleeve 56 corresponds to the taper of the internal wall of the inner race 55. The sleeve 56 is provided with a radially extending slot 51 at one side thereof which extends longitudinally of the sleeve 56 from one end thereof to the other. The outer end of the sleeve56 is threaded for reception of a lock nut 60 provided with spaced notches 6! in the outer periphery thereof which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable spanner wrench for tightening the nut 60 against a washer 62 which, in turn, bears against the adjacent surface of the inner race 55 of the anti-friction bearing.

The washer B2 is provided with suitable tabs 62a and 622) which are bent to extend respectively, into a keyway or groove 53a, extending longitudinally' of the periphery ofthe tapered sleeve ESQand in the adiacentnQiioh 61 in the nut fill to .thus'. 103k the [nut 6,9 in position afteuitfhas' Eliot thebearing block ssha's 'ajpair r spaced shapifingstithereg comesworn tosu'chan extent -that the'axis of v the shaft -2 0 'ispermitted tomove" downwardly; by gravity, below a predeterminedelevation."

The'improved mounting-for each end of the shaft-'20 'comprises a'pedest'al' or stand-'42 of any desired construction} the particular stand 42 in Figure 2-being illustrated-as beingof cast: con struction-and havingflanges 43 at the bottom thereof provided with longitudinallyslots M Y which are penetrated by respectivebolts 48- for securing thepedestal or" stand- 42: to the upper surface ofthe lower side frame member ill of the carding-machine betweenthe walls-of the opening 3, as defined-vat the lower end thereof by the flange 32 on theiupper. side frame. member v a t extending 1 friction bearing;

in whichjar'e adapted to fitjinto annular grooves 65in the wall'of the borefil 'It will be noted in Figure 4 vthat the remote. walls of the'grooves fifirelativeto each other extend at an angle'relativ'e to the vertical and the corresponding snap rings 65 are also tapered at theirfl'outer su ac s to ,tend'to urgethe snapj'rings tightly againsttlie adacent surfaces of theouter race5$ of the anti The opposed'inn'er surfaces of t'he upwardly extending center portion 5| of the bearing block are each 'providedwith' an angular recess 61 into which angular projections a of correspondmg bearing caps" 11; are adapted tosnugly fit.

"A bearing block-broadly designated-at, 45 is supported on the upper surface of'the pedestal 4-2 andthis bearing blockhas flange portions lfi on opposed sides :thereof each .of which is :provided with an adjustmentslot dlrwhich isuslidw ably penetrated by a square-shank boltio forsecuring the bearing block '45- to the upp r sur face'of thepedestal 42. wIIhe slots .41 are soarranged as to permit; adjustment of the bearing the shaf 2.0 a dblock, 45, parallel tothe axis of the slots 44, :the pedestal 42 permit adjustment of'the pedestal v42,andythegabearing block, 45, transversely of the axis-of the Shaf 2 'The bearing block; 4.5 has .anaupward y e tend;

ing substantially semi-circular center portion 5i which .is preferably, -.;of substantially. 165$ width thanathevwidth of stheflange portion awfliland i which has a circular-opening. or bore52 therethrough for slidably accommodating. the outer periphery of an ,outerracel53 of a self-aliping antiefriction bearing which is shown in the form I of azball :bearingin liigures .3 and5 g'lfhg con; cave; inner surface; of thev outer race 53 enci cles Since both of 'these bearingcaps H are identical, only one of the bearing caps "I [will be described and the same reference characters will 'apply to like parts associated with'each of the bearing caps Tl." Each of'the' bearirig caps Tl has a cavity 12 in the surface thereof adjacent thefup wardly profl n c r D m n?! f iheba i sbi which provides acavity or-enclosure into which u cantmav e di c e ou a p ss e y 13 in the-upper face of the bearing cap-H, each bearingcap ll shavings-a suitable lubrication fitting orzgrease fitting-1 mounted thereon and threadablyembedded therein and communicating with thepassageway 1 3 for introducing lubricant to the cavity-'fi-2;. Each of the bearing caps His securedto-the corresponding surfaces of the upwardly projecting center portion'bl of the bearing blocli'fifi byany suitable'me'ans suchas screws Each of the bearing'capmembers H has a'bore 1,6 therethrough' which is ofisubstantially larger diameter than the "portion ztc'or thesh'aft as and through thisp'ortion 20p extends; In order to sealj the lubricant within the cavity 12, thejwall of each 'o'i the bores has an annular, groovel l cem w i h res ien sealing ring. so is mounted, this sealing ring 80 preferably being made of a felt material.

One of the most important features of the present invention is a friction hearing or sleeve 82 which is fixedly mounted, as by a pressed fit, in the inner wall of each of the bearing caps ll. These friction bearings 82 are in axial alinement with each other as well as being in axial alinement with the anti-friction bearing comprising the outer and inner races 53 and 55. As heretofore stated, the sleeve 55 fits tightly along the portion 280 of the shaft 28. However, although it is not perceivable in the drawings, the internal diameter of the friction bearings 82 may be from seven to eleven one thousandths of an inch larger than the corresponding portion 260 of the shaft 20.

It is thus seen that during normal operation; that is, during which the duration of use of the anti-friction bearing in which the inner and outer races and 53, respectively, are held in correct spaced relation to each other by the balls 55, the anti-friction bearing will be the sole means of support for the corresponding end of the shaft 212. However, after continued use of the anti-friction bearing has worn various parts thereof to such an extent that they should be replaced, the balls as and possibly the inner and outer races to and 53 thereof, may break down and whereupon the shaft 20 will then be supported by the friction bearings 82 in the respective nearing caps N. This will insure that the weight supported by the shaft 2!} will only cause the shaft 2a to be lowered, by gravity, a few t'nousanoths .of an inch below its normal eletation and will thus prevent the card clothing on the main cylinder of the carding machine from being moved so close to the doffer cylinder and the licker-in cylinder in Figure 1 as to daniage the card clothing. It is evident that when the anti-friction bearing has broken down in the manner heretofore described, continued use of the bearing will cause the bearing to make sounds audible to the operator with the result that he may remove the bearing block 45 from the pedestal 22 and replace the worn anti-friction bearing therein. Removal of the bearing block 45 may be facilitated by the use of the shaft supporting means shown in my said 00- pending application.

In order to permit the escapement of air from the cavity 12 as lubricant is introduced thereto through the fitting I l and passageways 13, the lower portions of the cap members II have respective passageways 86 therein which extend horizontally and are normally closed by a threaded plug 87 which may be removed during the introduction of lubricant to the respective cavity 12 and may then be threadably embedded in the cap member If to close the passageway 36.

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved bearing for supporting a shaft having heavy weight thereon and where it is important that said shaft maintain a relatively constant elevation wherein said bearing includes an anti friction bearing serving as principal support for the shaft and a pair of auxiliary friction bearings positioned about said shaft and cooperating with said anti-friction bearing to provide additional support for the shaft and serving to maintain the shaft in a substantially constant attitude upon wearing of the anti-friction bearings.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. An improved bearing assembly adapted to be mounted on a frame member for rotatably supporting a shaft, said improved bearing assembly comprising a bearing block adapted to be secured on the frame member and through which the adjacent portion of a shaft extends, an anti-friction bearing mounted in the bearingblock, said anti-friction bearing including an outer race fixed in the bearing block and an inner race, means securing the inner race of said antifriction bearing on said shaft, a bearing cap secured on each end of the bearin block, a friction bearing mounted in each of said bearing caps and being positioned concentrically relatively to the anti-friction bearing and the shaft, the proximal surfaces of the bearing caps being provided with cavities therein to provide spaces between the bearing caps and the anti-friction bearing, means 101: introducinglubricant into the space between each end or the anti-friction bearing and the corresponding bearing cap, and me internal diameter of the friction bearing being slightly larger than the externai diameter OI tne shaft whereby said friction bearings will permit the shaft to rotate rreeiy therein and W111 support said snart upon failure or the anti-friction bearing.

An. improved mounting adapted to be secured to a name member for rotatably supporting a man, said improved mounting comprising a bearing moon adapted to be secured on Sald frame 1116111061 and tiii'uugn WnlUn a $113,113 extends, an anti-friction bearing mounted in said bearing DlOCK, saio. anti-iriction bearing having an 011081 race 8601113801. 111 0116 Hearing DLUUK and an inner race hired on said snait, a bearing cap nixed on each end oi the bearin moon, opposite ends OI the bearing ciucn and the correspending b'IlQS OI E116 Dual 111g caps being provideo with mating snouiuers thereon I01 maintaimng the bearing caps concentric with the bearing Knock, eauii of said beai'iiig'caps havinga. Ill-OM01). bearing llIlErmIl pufiiuiuucu concentricaliy witn me anti-ii'iction bearing and the snail sai bearing caps being cut away intern-any to provide a space between each or the bearing caps and corres onding ends or the anti-friction bearing, and means 101 introducing lubricant into cam or said spaces between the bearing caps and the anti-Mutation bearing whereby said ii'ictiun bearing will support said snai't upon iaiiure of the anti-friction bearing GEORGE G. SHERRILL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

